Monday, March 10 The Senate met Monday, approving numerous measures including the following. -SB 1445 by Sen. Susan Paddack, modifies the definition of “primary place of use” for mobile communications service under the Nine-One-One Wireless Emergency Number Act. -SB 1023 by Sen. Dan Newberry, establishes that the Legislature occupies and preempts the entire…
The Senate this week advanced several measures aimed at combating Oklahoma’s epidemic of prescription drug abuse, including legislation I have authored to strengthen regulations on controlled substances in nursing homes. Senate Bill 1243 would require nursing homes and home care services to obtain a registration from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs…
A Senate committee this week advanced legislation to establish a new retirement system for state employees hired beginning Nov. 1, 2015. The Legislature in recent years has streamlined government, reduced waste, and approved a number of reform proposals to strengthen our state’s fiscal foundation. Legislation providing the next generation of state employees with a modern…
On Tuesday, Sept. 10, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee will hold an interim study on reducing the divorce rate in Oklahoma. Sen. Rob Standridge, vice-chair of the committee, requested the study to examine how reducing the divorce rate can help the state’s children succeed while saving taxpayers millions of dollars. “Oklahoma continues to…
Sen. Rob Standridge this week said the state of Oklahoma has an opportunity to establish itself as a leader in addressing the growing problem of prescription drug abuse. While many studies show prescription drug abuse is a growing trend across the country, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) rank Oklahoma among the top states for…
The Senate this week approved legislation establishing regulations for the Lifeline Program – a federal program administered by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. The program, widely known as ‘Obama phones’, provides phone service for qualifying low-income individuals. Sen. Rob Standridge, Senate author of House Bill 2165, said the bill would require that phone service providers participating…
The state Senate on Tuesday approved legislation that would prohibit the use of welfare cash cards in strip clubs, liquor stores, and casinos. Authored by Sen. Rob Standridge, Senate Bill 667 would help ensure public assistance is ultimately being used to support families and children who need it most. “If the funding distributed through programs…
The state Senate on Tuesday approved legislation that will require out-of-state compounding pharmacies that deliver, dispense, or distribute prescription drugs in Oklahoma to submit an affidavit and pharmacy site inspection form to receive a license. Sen. Rob Standridge, author of Senate Bill 522, said the legislation was authored to prevent the sort of tragedy that…
The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services today gave unanimous approval to legislation that would ban the use of welfare cash cards at strip clubs, casinos, and liquor stores. Senate Bill 667, authored by Sen. Rob Standridge, would ensure that funds provided through programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are used to…
Sen. Rob Standridge has filed legislation that would disallow the use of any welfare cash cards in strip clubs, liquor stores, and casinos. Senate Bill 667 states that no electronic benefit transfer card containing state or federal funds from programs including, but not limited to, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), may be used in…